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North, William (1825-1854)

Characterized as an "eccentric literary man not without a spice of genius," William North was born in England and eventually settled in New York City (W. Rossetti 48-49). In England he established a periodical North's Magazine, and in New York he began publishing sensational stories like "The Living Corpse" which appeared in Putnam's in 1853 and was later reprinted in the Saturday Press. Junius Browne indicates that North had some difficulty establishing a reputation as a writer: "He found the struggle harder than he had anticipated; for, though a man of talent and culture, he lacked directness of purpose and capacity for continuous work. His disappointment soured him, and poverty so embittered his sensitive nature that he destroyed himself, leaving a sixpence, all the money he had" (156). This struggle led him to threaten suicide a variety of times, with Henry Clapp noting that "his mind was always a little bit shaky" (Brooklyn Eagle, May 25, 1884).

North predates the opening of Pfaff's, but he shared many connections with its prominent visitors. Most noteworthy was his connection to Fitz-James O'Brien. North had a falling-out with O'Brien and "called him a braggart, a borrower, and a bully" (A. Parry 52). North went so far as to satirize O'Brien as "Fitzgammon O'Bouncer" in his posthumously published novel The Slave of the Lamp (1855). The United States Review characterized this text as "a dangerous book for the young" written by a man who, despite being "but a few degrees removed from absolute genius," was laid low by his vanity and brought to despair, taking his own life in 1854. Some controversy later arose over whether O'Brien's "The Diamond Lens," published in the Atlantic Monthly, was adapted from North's unpublished manuscript "Microcosmos." In an article that Gunn included in his diary, Charles Seymour defended the deceased North's work writing that the piece in question had "remained inedited up to the time of his decease, [and] I can conscientiously identify as the waif on which Mr. O'Brien has lain violent hands" (Gunn, vol. 9, 78). According to Gunn, North also knew Henry Clapp Jr., whom he first met in London at a party (Gunn, vol. 10, 146-7). Their friendship blossomed during the late 1840s and early 1850s before his death (Whitley and Weidman 35). According to Edward Whitley and Robert Weidman, "in addition to being present at Henry Clapp's European rebirth as a bohemian, North would also play a key role in Clapp's efforts to transplant the spirit of the bohemia to the United States (36).

While William North died before the heyday of the Pfaff's scene, his life and works had a strong influence on the Pfaffians, and he "served as a catalyst for helping the bohemians to forge their identity as a group" (Whitley and Weidman 37). To this extent, historian Albert Parry claims that "[c]hronologically, North's suicide on November 14, 1854, began the true Bohemia. It cast the cloak of romantic tragedy over his circle. Some said that he swallowed prussic acid because he was unable to stand his journalist's poverty any longer; others maintained that he did it because of frustrated love. Romantic souls shed tears reading his letter to his friends, the artist [Frank] Bellew and his wife: 'May you be happy! Do not regret me. I am not fit for this world, I fly to a better world. I am calm and brave and hopeful'" (49).

In his 1865 tribute to Fitz-James O'Brien ("O'Brien's Personal Characteristics"), George Arnold disputes the allegations that O'Brien plagiarized William North's manuscripts for his short story "The Diamond Lens."

Cites William North as contributing to the first issue of Putnam's. Describes North as "a wild, impulsive creature, frank, generous, impatient of restraint, full of brilliant projects, hating routine, and bent on reforming mankind on the instant." Mentions that he published North's Magazine while in London. Claims that North and Fitz-James O'Brien arrived in New York in the same week (2).

Browne mentions that North was English and had "quarreled" with his wealthy parents. North is described as having "come to this country to live by his pen" (155-6). Browne includes North among the Bohemians.

Brown indicates that North had some difficulty establishing a reputation as a writer: "He found the struggle harder than he had anticipated; for, though a man of talent and culture, he lacked directness of purpose and capacity for continuous work. His disappointment soured him, and poverty so embittered his sensitive nature that he destroyed himself, leaving a sixpence, all the money he had, and the 'Slave of the Lamp,' a manuscript novel, which he had not been able to sell, but for which the notoriety of the mournful tragedy secured a publisher" (156).

Jane Fairfield states that, "[t]he poet William North arrived, during our stay in New York, from London. He had not been long in this country before fate threw myself and daughter in the way of his acquaintance." She describes him as "one of the most unhappy and unfortunate of the fraternity of poets." Jane Fairfield recounts North's unrequited love for her daughter Genevieve Genevra Fairfield, his subsequent suicide, and the posthumous publication of his novel The Slave of the Lamp. She includes a review of this novel and two poems by North published in The New York Times.

Gunn mentions seeing William North in the Lantern office on three occasions: April 22, May 20, and July 1, 1852. On all three occasions, Fitz-James O'Brien was also there (95, 121, 154). The April 22nd meeting may have been Gunn's first encounter with North, as he states, "[p]resently came in one North, writer, Democrat, Metaphysician and World-Betterer" (95). On May 20th, Frank Bellew also accompanied North and O'Brien (121).

Hamilton suggests that North's love for Genevieve Genevra Fairfield may have been requited if not for the interference of her mother, stating that "it is possible that had Genevra been left to herself a union with North might have resulted." However, Hamilton admits that "Genevra's mental illness, as her mother obviously intimates, may have been so severe as to prohibit any thought of marriage and the very impossibility of responding to North's passion may have hastened the final tragedy."

Hillyer recounts that, after arriving in the United States, North "became identified with the literati of New York City and joined the ranks of bohemianism, just then beginning to form in the metropolis." He further states that "[a]lthough North wrote considerably and well, success did not crown his work to the extent of his ambition. The consequent effect upon his temparment was morbidly depressive." Of North's posthumously published Slave of the Lamp, Hillyer writes that "his sad death lent a morbid interest to it," but concludes that "[t]hough read by many at the time of its publication, it is now known only to the literary student, and it has sunk into the same oblivion that has engulfed the fame of its writer."

A "'man of eccentric vision, physical and mental'" North chose not to follow his father's career in law. With no monetary help from his parents, North took small literary jobs, and became Henry Clapp's "'chum'" in London (12).

North's colleagues said that he was "'full of brilliant projects, hating routine, and bent on reforming mankind on the instant'" (48).

The author mentions that he read the manuscript by North that was later suggested by some as the source for O'Brien's The Diamond Lens and claims that "the two were wholly unlike in every point except the suggesting idea, which has been in writing for two thousand years."

This obituary comments on the dramatic nature of North's death, stating that "[a] more determined and deliberate suicide has never been committed." The article states that, during his two years in the United States, "he has written several large volumes of tales, essays and poetry -- all of which have appeared in the leading magazines and periodicals and been extensively copied."

Of North, this review contends that "[t]hroughout all his writings there is a gloomy indifference to life, and a bitter contempt for a world of which he knew nothing; yet Mr. North was capable of lasting genuine friendship. A little genial appreciation was all he asked; he felt he deserved it, for he had worked hard for the boon. It was when this was disputed -- and in his forays among strangers who had never heard his name it was apt to be -- that he became most gloomy, and retired bitterly within himself to fresh contemplation of human destiny and woe."

In his 1865 tribute to Fitz-James O'Brien ("O'Brien's Personal Characteristics"), George Arnold disputes the allegations that O'Brien plagiarized William North's manuscripts for his short story "The Diamond Lens."

Parry also notes that Clapp "whispered" to others during this time that North could not stay in a room with the doors open, yet when his body was found in his rooms on Bond Street the doors were open. According to Parry, "It appealed to the contemporary imagination that North was an Englishman, born at sea of a distinguished family, and that his body was to be shipped from New York to his far-off island home. The prissy William Winter, the most virtuous of all the Bohemians, said that the woman of the dead brother's despair was so beautiful that she could 'have inspired idolatrous passion in the breast of even a marble monument'" (49).

Parry mentions that North was the "first enemy" Fitz-James O'Brien made in America (52). Of the "frequent" charges of plagiarism made against the Pfaffians, "the first and most notable" was made against Fitz-James O'Brien and the "Diamond Lens." The accusation was that O'Brien had taken the story from North's papers when North committed suicide. "The idea of the 'Lens' was identical with that of North's unpublished 'Microcosmus,' which story was known to a few friends but was never found in any magazine office or among North's possessions. Even if not true, this charge is indicative of the state of mind of the first Bohemia" (55-56).

William Michael Rossetti describes North as "an eccentric literary man, not without a spice of genius, of whom we then saw a goodish deal–author of Anti-Coningsby, The Infinite Republic, and other works." He also states that "he emigrated to the United States, and in 1854 committed suicide."

Rossetti describes North as "a pale, rather fleshy young man, with bright eyes, a slightly high clear voice, and very pallid straight hair of yellowish twinge." He depicts North as a "strange character" whose "shifts were numerous -- assuredly more numerous than his shirts." Rossetti states that when North left London for the United States, "at some such date as 1853," he left two women there "with some claim upon him" and that these women were the inspiration for North's poems Blondine and Brunetta. Rossetti recounts that in New York, "North made a not incosiderable impression by his tales and other writings." However, he attributes North's suicide to the fact that "money refused to be forthcoming."

Winter recalls that after O'Brien's "The Diamond Lens" was published, "a groundless, foolish fable was set afloat" that alleged that O'Brien had taken the story from one of North's manuscripts. Winter states that "the fact being that it ['The Diamond Lens'] was prompted by a remark made to him [O'Brien] by Dr. A.L Carroll (he who, for a short time in 1865, published a comic paper called 'Mrs. Grundy'), relative to the marvellous things contained in a drop of water" (67-68).

North wrote the novel "The Man of the World," originally titled "The Slave of the Lamp." North and O'Brien had been friends, but that had had a falling-out, and in this novel North created a character named "Fitz-Gammon O'Bouncer," which "described and satirized his former friend" (68).

On November 13, 1854, "disappointment in love, and everything else, being the cause of his deplorable act," North committed suicide by drinking prussic acid at No. 7 Bond Street, New York. He was about twenty-eight years old. North was originally from England and was "a scion of the Guilford family." Winter notes that "both in London and New York, he had worked incessantly with his pen,--writing stories in such magazines as the old 'Graham's' and 'The Knickerbocker,' and contributing in various ways to the press." At the time of his death, "An envolope was found on his desk, containing twelve cents, with a few written words, stating that to be the fruit of his life's labor" (68).

You are long ere acquainted with the melancholy death of our poor friend North's career. He left a letter for you, which has been forwarded. Other particulars of the event were published in the "Daily Times" and other papers. The cause of death was love, not poverty. He impressed that on me, the night before the catastrophe. I little thought the threat he uttered then,--as he had done many times before,--would so surely be carried into execution.

It is to me, and it will be to you, a source of inexpressible consolation that we, at least, of all his friends, understood, appreciated, and loved him to the last. To the time of his death I valued him as a brother, and cannot recall an angry word that ever passed his lips or mine. Poor fellow; my heart bleeds when I think of his sad, sad end.

I wish to relieve you on one point where you will, I am sure, experience uneasiness. Everything that propriety and love demanded has been done. The corpse now lies in the vault of Greenwood Cemetery. I have not interred it, because I thought it necessary to write to England, to consult North's relations, before doing so. I ask nothing from them, only the privilege of honoring my poor friend's remains here, if they do not wish them there.

A great amount of sympathy has been elicited by the event, but I have not permitted it to interfere with my action in the matter. Excepting myself and Underhill, there was no other friend here from whom North would have accepted a favor. I have not allowed any one to offend his memory by offering his assistance now. Underhill insisted, and he alone participated.

I have ninety days privilege of the vault. If I do not hear from England in that time, I shall purchase a plot of ground, and suitably mark the spot where lies a man of genius, a gentleman, and a kind, brave, well loved friend.

Winter reports that it has been over fifty years since North has died. Winter remarks that North was "Not widely known in his own time, he is not at all known now: yet his writings, notwithstanding indications of a visionary, unstable brain, possess poetical enthusiasm and are a part of literature, while his personal story has a place in literary annals. Under the name of Dudley Mondel, he has, to some extent, sketched himself, in his novel called "The Slave of the Lamp,"--existant now, though long out of print, as "The Man of the World." According to Winter, North's given personal history states that he was born at sea and eduated partly in England and partly in Germany. North's boyhood novel was titled "Anti-Coningsby" and was written "for the purpose of controverting the political views of the then young Disraeli." According to Winter, North came to New York at about the age of twenty-five and "wrote industriously for 'Graham's Magazine,' 'Harper's Magazine,' 'The Knickerbocker Magazine,' 'The Whig Review,' and other periodical publications." Winter lists some of North's stories: "The Phantom World," "The Usurer's Gift," "My Ghost," and "The Man that Married His Grandmother." Winter claims that "North's fantastic, almost delirious 'Slave of the Lamp' is not for a moment comperable with 'Treasure Island,' but it contains a remote premonition of that remarkable tale, in its account of a voyage to an auriferous isle, somewhere in the Antarctic zone, on which the adventurous Dudley Mondel, the hero of the novel, and his singularly miscellaneous companions found much gold, and on which, deep in the crater of a vast conical mountain, they discovered a broad lake of quicksilver, into which one of the group fell and was converted into a statue, reposing on the surface of the lake" (314-315).

About the woman believed to be the cause of North's suicide, Winter states: "The woman for hopeless love of whom North committed suicide was, in after years, known to me, and certainly she was beautiful enough to have inspired idolatrous passion in the breast of a marble monument" (315).

In a discussion of William North, Winter calls upon information he received from Clapp: "Henry Clapp, who knew him well, told me that it was one of North's peculiarities that, in whatever room he chanced to be, at night, he could not bear to have the door stand open, even an inch: yet the door of the room in which he died was found to be standing ajar by persons who, at morning, discovered the corpse" (316-317).

Winter also reprints the letter North wrote to Bellew. The letter, written in blue ink and addressed to F.T. Bellew and Mrs. Bellew read:

Dear Friends:--May you be happy! Do not regret me. I am not fit for this world. I fly to a better life. I am calm and brave and hopeful.